Publication:

Low birth weight and its sociodemographic correlates: a descriptive study from medical college hospital, Maharashtra

Background Low birth weight is one of the most serious challenges in maternal and child health in both developed and developing countries. According to a UNICEF report about 28 per cent of babies born in India are low birth weight. Present hospital based study was undertaken to estimate the proportion of babies with low birth weight.

Methods The present hospital based descriptive study was conducted at Swami Ramanand Teerth Rural Govt. Medical College and Hospital. The data collection was done during 1st March 2012 to 28th February 2013. All deliveries occurring on alternate days were included in the study which comes to, 1154 deliveries.

Results Out of total 1154 live full term new borns; 279 (24.18%) were low birth weight babies. The percentage of low birth weight babies was more in mothers from rural area 243 (27.46%). Highest percentage (45.33%) of low birth weight babies was seen in non agricultural laborer. Higher percentage of low birth weight babies (26.18%) was observed among mothers belonging to joint family. Highest percentage (28.61%) of low birth weight babies was observed in class V socioeconomic status.

Conclusions Baby birth weight has significant association with place of residence, mothers occupation, fathers occupation, socioeconomic status of family (p<0.05).